Warm Chicory Salad With Sweet Garlic Croutons Bacon Roqu Recipes

WARM CHICORY SALAD WITH SWEET GARLIC, CROUTONS, BACON & ROQU

Steps:

• To Prepare the Sweet Garlic: Place the garlic and milk in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, and bring the milk to a boil.
• Boil for 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Discard the milk, reserving the garlic.
• Combine the sugar and butter over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and cook until the cloves are soft and lightly caramelized.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Set the sweet garlic aside.
• To Prepare the Croutons and Bacon: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a skillet until it is crisp but not dry.
• Remove from the heat and place the bacon on paper towels.
• Pour off all but 3 to 4 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat.
• Add the cubed bread to the pan and toss to coat.
• Season with salt and pepper and transfer the bread cubes to a baking sheet.
• Bake for 5 minutes, or until they are lightly browned.
• Set aside.
• To Make the Dressing: Mix the shallots, mustard, and vinegar together.
• Gradually whisk in the olive oil until the liquid is well blended.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Set aside.
• To Serve: Tear the chicory leaves into small pieces.
• Place them in a serving bowl and set aside at room temperature.
• Heat the bacon in a small, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the croutons and then the dressing.
• Toss for 2 seconds, pour it over the salad greens, and toss thoroughly.
• (Don't overcook the dressing or the mustard will lose its flavor.) Serve the salad on individual plates, topped with crumbled Roquefort cheese, sweet garlic, and freshly ground pepper to taste.

HEARTY BACON AND LEMON CHICORY SALAD

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until it is golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Break into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces; set aside. Drain all but 1 1/2 tablespoons bacon fat from the pan. Add the onion. Cook over medium heat until soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place the chicory, frisee, bacon, and onion in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over salad, and toss. Serve the salad immediately.

CHICORY SALAD WITH GIANT GARLIC CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine garlic and parsley in a small bowl. Using a total of 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil, brush both sides of bread. Sprinkle one side liberally with the garlic-parsley mixture. Season with salt. Arrange on a baking sheet, and toast in oven until golden and crisp, 15 to 18 minutes. Set aside.
• Discard tough stems of chicories. Tear into bite-size pieces, and place in serving bowl. Combine lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Drizzle over greens, and season with salt and pepper. Serve salad with reserved croutons.

CHICORY SALAD WITH PEAR, TOASTED WALNUT AND MAPLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Coarsely chop walnuts and spread on a baking sheet.
• Bake 5 minutes, stir then continue baking another 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool.
• To make vinaigrette, whisk vinegar with olive oil, maple syrup, salt and pepper.
• Core and slice pear.
• Place chicory and pear in a large salad bowl.
• Toss with vinaigrette until leaves are shiny.
• Scatter with walnuts and serve right away.

SPRING SALAD WITH CRISPY CHICKEN AND BACONY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 475ºF. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Using kitchen shears, remove bones, keeping skin and flesh intact; discard bones. Season chicken all over with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
• Heat a medium cast-iron or heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high until hot but not smoking. Sear chicken skin side down, undisturbed, 2 minutes. Continue to cook, turning occasionally, until fat renders and skin is golden brown, 4-6 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate. Carefully pour off all but 2 tsp. fat and wipe off any fat that drips onto side or bottom of skillet. Return chicken to skillet skin side up. Transfer to oven and roast chicken, tenting skillet with foil if skin becomes too dark halfway through, until skin crisps and meat is cooked through, 8-12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until just crispy, 4-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a large heatproof bowl. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. fat. Heat fat in skillet over medium. Add bread in an even layer, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook, turning pieces occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat; add 1 Tbsp. vinegar and toss until absorbed. Let cool a few minutes, then taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer croutons to bowl with bacon.
• Remove chicken from oven and transfer to a plate; reserve skillet with fat and pan drippings. Let chicken cool 5-10 minutes, then cut into 1" pieces.
• Cook shallot, peas, 1/8 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in reserved skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until shallots are softened and peas are cooked, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in oil and remaining 2 Tbsp. vinegar (mixture will bubble) with a heatproof spatula. (If you want to ensure bright green peas, cook them separately in a small saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave and sprinkle over top of salad after plating.)
• Add escarole, fennel, and radishes to bowl with bacon and croutons. Pour warm dressing over. Toss to combine and slightly wilt greens.
• Mound salad among plates; nestle in chicken pieces. Top with mint. Serve immediately.